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  • Gable Steveson Shuts Out Alexandr Romanov in RAF Debut

    Gable Steveson Shuts Out Alexandr Romanov in RAF Debut

    About a month-and-a-half before he makes his UFC debut, Gable Steveson found success in his RAF debut, scoring a shutout, technical fall victory over UFC and PFL veteran Alexandr Romanov.

    Steveson’s athleticism proved to be a problem for Romanov, with Steveson using a takedown and turn to quickly rack up a 4-0 lead in the first period. The action was briefly halted after Romanov appeared to suffer an arm injury. Romanov continued the bout, with Steveson up 5-0 at the end of the first.

    Steveson continued his pace into the second, scoring a point on a step-out before adding two more with a takedown. Steveson soon rolled and executed a gutwrench to take a 10-0 win.

    Steveson is a former Olympic and Pan-American Games gold medalist and is the former NCAA All-American and national champion wrestler from the University of Minnesota. Steveson, a protege of Jon Jones, will make his UFC debut at UFC 329 in July, taking on Elisha Ellison.

    Romanov is now 0-2 in RAF. He debuted at RAF 02, losing to Mason Parris.

  • Colby Covington Bests Chris Weidman, Will Face Arman Tsarukyan

    Colby Covington Bests Chris Weidman, Will Face Arman Tsarukyan

    Colby Covington may have recently retired from the UFC, but his run in the RAF continues successfully, defeating Chris Weidman in the RAF 09 co-main event.

    Following the matchup, Covington and Tsarukyan agreed to an RAF battle in the wrestling promotion’s July event in Milwaukee.

    Weidman scored first blood when using Covington’s momentum to score a throw, taking two points. A wild scramble sequence caused a review at the end of the first period, where the officials determined the score to be 4-2 in Weidman’s favor.

    Covington, however, battled right back. His cardio outlasted Weidman’s, with Covington scoring a takedown late in the second to tie the matchup. Weidman then gave up a point when put on the shot clock in the third, and he was unable to score a takedown, giving Covington the win.

    Following the matchup, Covington was given the opportunity to respond to Tsarukyan, who called Covington out following his win earlier in the night. The two agreed to their July bout.

    Covington made his RAF debut at RAF 05, defeating Lance Palmer. He then battled Dillon Danis at RAF 07, dominating in that matchup.

  • Merab Dvalishvili Overwhelms Frankie Edgar For Tech Fall

    Merab Dvalishvili Overwhelms Frankie Edgar For Tech Fall

    While it was a month later than initially planned, Merab Dvalishvili still had a successful debut in RAF, defeating Frankie Edgar at RAF 09.

    Edgar had some success early in the bout, controlling the mat throughout the first period and earning a point on a Dvalishvili shot clock violation. The former UFC bantamweight champion, however, picked things up in the second round, scoring a point when Edgar stepped out of bounds, and adding another two on a takedown.

    Dvalishvili got things out of hand in the third, scoring multiple points through takedowns and exposure points, racking up a 12-1 score for a technical fall victory.

    Dvalishvili was scheduled to make his RAF debut at RAF 08 against Henry Cejudo but injury took Cejudo out of the bout hours before the event was to begin. Dvalishvili used his RAF 09 post-fight interview time to call out Cejudo.

    This marked Edgar’s RAF debut.

  • Darren Till Gets Dropped, Comes Back To KO Aaron Chalmers

    Darren Till Gets Dropped, Comes Back To KO Aaron Chalmers

    Though it was from perfect, Darren Till managed to bring an unbelievable performance in his BKFC debut, scoring a finish of Aaron Chalmers at BKFC 90.

    Late in the first round, Chalmers caught Till with a left hand, causing the Liverpool-born fighter to stumble and his knee to touch the mat, giving Chalmers a knockdown.

    Till was not deterred, however. In the second round, Till would land his own left hand on Chalmers, crumbling him to the canvas.

    Darren Till KOs Aaron Chalmers In BKFC Debut At BKFC 90

    Chalmers was unable to continue and beat the count, giving Till the knockout victory.

    Till, the former UFC welterweight title challenger, fought in boxing three times in 2025. After defeating Anthony Taylor and Darren Stewart, Till defeated Luke Rockhold to become the first bridgerweight champion of Misfits Boxing.

    Chalmers came into this bout off a win over Jack Fincham in September.

  • Arman Tsarukyan Gets Thrown & Pushed But Dominates For Tech Fall

    Arman Tsarukyan Gets Thrown & Pushed But Dominates For Tech Fall

    Arman Tsarukyan continues to be a force to reckon with in RAF, dominating Keelon Jimison for a technical fall victory in the opening bout of RAF 09.

    The bout wasn’t perfect for Tsarukyan, as he let up an early four-point throw to Jimison. Tsarukyan, however, locked in the rest of the way, scoring a takedown and consecutive rolls to quickly rack up points.

    The bout ended in a technical fall after Tsarukyan’s domination on top led to a 16-5 score.

    Tsarukyan called out Colby Covington for his next fight.

    Tsarukyan now improves to 5-0 in RAF. He’s competed in every RAF event in 2026, scoring wins over Lance Palmer, Georgio Poullas (twice), and Urijah Faber prior to tonight’s bout.

    Jimison is now 0-2 in RAF. He made his debut at RAF 02, losing to Cayden Henschel.

  • RAF 09 Results: Steveson vs. Romanov

    RAF 09 Results: Steveson vs. Romanov

    RAF 09 results and highlights are updated live as the action unfolds from the College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. The main event will feature the RAF debut of Gable Steveson as he takes on Alexandr Romanov. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Gable Steveson vs. Alexandr Romanov – Heavyweight Main Event

    Steveson won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and is a former multiple-time NCAA-Division I All-American and heavyweight champion from the University of Minnesota. Since then, Steveson has had an unsuccessful stint with the WWE and an unsuccessful tryout with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. He will make his UFC debut at UFC 329 in July.

    Romanov competed in the UFC from 2020 to 2024. He has since signed with the PFL, making it to the finals of last year’s Heavyweight World Yournament before losing to Oleg Popov. Romanov fought at PFL Chicago in April, submitting Rodrigo Nascimento. Romanov made his RAF debut at RAF 02, losing to Mason Parris.

    The co-main event will feature Colby Covington taking on Chris Weidman.

    Covington, who recently announced his UFC retirement, is 2-0 so far in RAF, defeating Luke Rockhold and Dillon Danis. Weidman, the soon-to-be UFC Hall of Famer, makes his RAF debut tonight. He last competed in the UFC at UFC 310, losing to Eryk Anders.

    How to Watch RAF 09

    • Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
    • Venue: College Park Center, Arlington, Texas
    • Streaming: FOX Nation (Exclusive)
    • Start Time: 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT

    RAF 09 Results & Highlights

    Full Card Results (FOX Nation, 8 PM ET)

    Middleweight: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Keelon Jimison

    Result: Arman Tsarukyan def. Keelon Jimison via technical fall (16-5)

    Women’s Catchweight (125 lbs): Lucia Yepez vs. Cameron Guerin

    Result: Lucia Yepez def. Cameron Guerin via technical fall (10-0)

    Lightweight: Ridge Lovett vs. Bajrang Punia

    Result: Ridge Lovett def. Bajrang Punia via decision (13-8)

    Lightweight: Zain Rutherford vs. Antrell Taylor

    Result: Zain Rutherford def. Antrell Taylor via decision (8-0)

    Middleweight: Christopher Minto vs. Jason Nolf

    Result: Jason Nolf def. Christopher Minto via decision (8-5)

    Cruiserweight: Parker Keckeisen vs. Georgios Kougioumtsidis

    Result: Parker Keckeisen def. Georgious Kougioumtsidis via decision (10-5)

    Featherweight Championship: Ibragim Ilyasov vs. Real Woods

    Result: Real Woods def. Ibragim Ilyasov via fall (2:11)

    Lightweight: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Frankie Edgar

    Result: Merab Dvalishvili def. Frankie Edgar via technical fall (12-1)

    Light Heavyweight Championship: Kyle Snyder vs. Givi Matcharashvili

    Result: Kyle Snyder def. Givi Matcharashvili via technical fall (10-0)

    Catchweight (200 lbs): Colby Covington vs. Chris Weidman

    Result: Colby Covington def. Chris Weidman via decision (5-4)

    Heavyweight: Gable Steveson vs. Alexander Romanov

    Result: Gable Steveson def. Alexander Romanov via technical fall (10-0)

  • ‘Team Alpha Male Style’ – Song Yadong Submits Deiveson Figueiredo

    ‘Team Alpha Male Style’ – Song Yadong Submits Deiveson Figueiredo

    Deiveson Figueiredo was believed to have the grappling edge in the UFC Macau main event. Song Yadong, however, was the one who jumped the gilly and scored the submission victory.

    A quiet first round saw Figueiredo throw just six strikes in the entire round, while Yadong worked leg kicks while stuffing takedown attempts from Figueiredo — though slipping at the end of the round.

    Yadong continued to defend the takedown attempts in the second round, and he picked up on his striking, landing a couple of strong leg kicks and working a key combination.

    But as Figueiredo went in for another takedown attempt, Yadong was ready and locked in a quick guillotine choke, scoring a submission victory in round two.

    Song Yadong Submits Deiveson Figueiredo At UFC Macau

    Yadong has now won four of his last six bouts and is likely to score a big contender’s battle in his next fight. He entered this fight off a loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 324.

    Figueiredo has now lost four of his last five. He entered this bout off a loss to Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 324.

  • Alonzo Menifield Blasts Zhang Mingyang In Upset Victory

    Alonzo Menifield Blasts Zhang Mingyang In Upset Victory

    In a case of deja vu, a fight expected to be a coming-out party for Zhang Mingyang in China ends with him getting finished — and this time, it’s in a more brutal upset fashion.

    Despite being a heavy underdog in the matchup, Alonzo Menifield used a perfect strategy to be the one who scored the first-round finish, defeating Mingyang in the co-main event of UFC Macau.

    The two came out early with striking, as Menifield looked to get inside on Mingyang. The strategy seemed to work, as, while he took a couple of shots, Menifield did some damage before pinning Mingyang against the fence and winning the clinch exchanges.

    Menifield then rocked Mingyang, landing combinations near the fence, before dropping him with a left hand. Menifield’s follow-up shots then quickly brought the fight to a close.

    Alonzo Menifield Scores Upset, First-Round Finish Of Zhang Mingyang At UFC Macau

    Menifield has now won three of his last four fights. He rebounds here after a first-round loss to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Qatar in November.

    Mingyang has now lost back-to-back fights after a 12-fight win streak. Mingyang entered this fight off a second-round TKO loss to Johnny Walker at UFC Shanghai in August.

  • Sergei Pavlovich Destroys Tallison Teixeira At UFC Macau

    Sergei Pavlovich Destroys Tallison Teixeira At UFC Macau

    If you left your seat for a minute, you completely missed Sergei Pavlovich’s quick and powerful victory over Tallison Teixiera at UFC Macau.

    The two stayed patient in the opening seconds, respecting one another’s power and trying to find an opening. When both of them started to let loose, however, it was Pavlovich who did the landing.

    A pair of right hands stumbled Teixeira, causing Pavlovich to fire off a flurry, finishing Teixeira in just 39 seconds.

    Pavlovich then used his post-fight interview to call for a title shot or a title eliminator.

    Sergei Pavlovich KOs Tallison Texieira In Less Than A Minute At UFC Macau

    Pavlovich, who entered this fight ranked No. 3 at heavyweight in the UFC, has now won three straight. He entered this fight off a win over Waldo Cortes-Acosta in August.

    Teixeira now falls to 9-2 and has lost two of his last three. He entered this fight off a decision win over Tai Tuivasa at UFC 324.

  • Kai Asakura Badly Batters Cameron Smotherman For First UFC Win

    Kai Asakura Badly Batters Cameron Smotherman For First UFC Win

    After struggles in his first pair of UFC fights, Kai Asakura’s move up to bantamweight was the performance that people had been waiting for.

    Asakura landed powerful punches in the first round that dropped Cameron Smotherman out cold in their bout at UFC Macau.

    The two traded leg kicks from the outside, as Asakura waited for the opportunity to open up his strikes. He found it when he landed a right hand, rocking Smotherman.

    Askaura pressed Smotherman to the fence, landing a small flurry that ended with a left hand that landed on the button, dropping Smotherman unconscious.

    Kai Asakura Gets First UFC Win With KO Of Cameron Smotherman At UFC Macau

    Asakura is a former RIZIN bantamweight champion. Asakura made his UFC debut at UFC 310, unsuccessfully challenging Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC flyweight championship. He then fought Tim Elliott at UFC 319, losing via submission.

    Smotherman has now lost three straight after winning his UFC debut. He is now 12-7 as a pro in MMA.

  • Low Blow Ends Alex Perez Vs. Su Mudaerji In No Contest

    Low Blow Ends Alex Perez Vs. Su Mudaerji In No Contest

    While it wasn’t the first foul of the fight, a kick from Su Mudaerji landed on the groin of Alex Perez, resulting in Perez becoming unable to continue their UFC Macau main card opening bout.

    The fight, as a result, was declared a no contest.

    The bout was a competitive one, as Perez looked to make use of his boxing and clinch work during the opening round. Su Mudaerji, however, changed the momentum on the dime during round two when he landed a hard left hand that dropped Perez.

    Perez managed to make it back to his feet despite some heavy ground strikes from Su Mudaerji. The fight, however, ended anti-climatically when a kick from Su Mudaerji landed on Perez’s groin.

    Perez was unable to continue after the five-minute timeout period, resulting in the referee declaring the no contest result.

    Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji At UFC Macau Ends In No Contest

    Perez has only won two bouts since unsuccessfully challenging Deiveson Figueiredo for the flyweight title at UFC 255.

    Su Mudaerji sees a three-fight win streak snapped; however, he still has not lost since losing to Charles Johnson in late 2024. Su Mudaerji entered this fight off a win over Jesus Santos Aguilar at UFC 326.

  • Luis Felipe Dias Cracks Yi Sak Lee For Quick Finish In Debut

    Luis Felipe Dias Cracks Yi Sak Lee For Quick Finish In Debut

    Luis Felipe Dias put a bow on a strong preliminary card for UFC Macau, landing a right hand to score a finish of Yi Sak Lee in the featured bout of the early card.

    The fight was slow to start, with both fighters trying to read the other before leg kicks were traded. Lee tried to get his boxing going, but Dias landed a couple of strong counterpunches, one of which briefly knocked Lee down.

    Dias landed another strong punch that dropped Lee, causing him to go to his knees and fall on his stomach on the canvas. A couple of follow-up shots brought about the stoppage, giving Dias the win.

    Luis Felipe Dias Crumbles Yi Sak Lee At UFC Macau

    Dias has now won four straight. This marked his UFC debut after submitting Donavon Hedrick to win a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last year.

    Lee, who falls to 8-2, was also making his UFC debut tonight. He came into this bout off a last-second submission of Daichi Mikami in September.

  • Rei Tsuruya Drops, Submits Short-Notice Opponent At UFC Macau

    Rei Tsuruya Drops, Submits Short-Notice Opponent At UFC Macau

    It was a valiant effort from Luis Gurule, who took a spot on UFC Macau on short notice; however, the offense of Rei Tsuruya was too much to overcome.

    Tsuruya scored a first-round finish of Gurule during the preliminary card of UFC Macau.

    Tsuruya troubled Gurule early, doing damage with a sharp left hand before scoring a takedown. Tsuruya landed plenty of ground-and-pound, controlling the action from the top.

    Rei Tsuruya Submits Short-Notice Opponent Luis Gurule At UFC Macau

    When he wasn’t able to get a TKO finish, Tsuruya looked to lock up a choke. Despite getting back to his feet one time, Gurule wasn’t able to defend another attempt. Tsuruya managed to lock in a body triangle before scoring the submission.

    Tsuruya is now 11-1 in his career and 2-1 in the UFC. He rebounds from his only career loss, which came at UFC 313 at the hands of current UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van.

    Gurule is now just 1-4 in the UFC since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2024. He fought just two weeks ago at UFC Vegas 117, scoring a decision over Daniel Barez.

  • Rodrigo Vera Rattles, Drops Kangjie Zhu For KO At UFC Macau

    Rodrigo Vera Rattles, Drops Kangjie Zhu For KO At UFC Macau

    After previously being passed over for a spot on The Ultimate Fighter, Rodrigo Vera sent a statement to those who doubted him.

    In his UFC debut during the UFC Macau prelims, Vera scored a brutal first-round finish of Kangjie Zhu.

    The two went to a striking battle right in the first minute, with both focusing on leg kicks. Vera looked to pressure by closing the distance and trying to land strikes from close range, adding in a takedown attempt to the mix as well.

    Rodrigo Vera Blasts Kangjie Zhu At UFC Macau

    Things quickly came to an end in the second minute of the fight when Vera landed a left hook that dropped Zhu to the mat. Vera followed up with punches that left Zhu defenseless and out cold.

    Vera now improves to a career record of 22-1-1, having not dropped a fight since 2019. This marked his UFC debut after competing on the regional scene with FFC, where he was a champion, as well as bouts in the LFA and Shooto Brazil.

    This also marked Zhu’s UFC debut. He competed in three Road to UFC bouts over the last couple of years, scoring decision wins over Tatsuya Ando, Shin Haraguchi and Bin Xie.

  • Jaqueline Amorim Locks Looma Lookboonmee In Nasty Armbar

    Jaqueline Amorim Locks Looma Lookboonmee In Nasty Armbar

    The China crowd saw action right out of the gate during the UFC Macau prelims, as Jaqueline Amorim scored a devastating submission win over Loma Lookboonmee.

    Amorim look to bring her grappling game right away, pressuring Lookboonmee to the fence before securing a takedown. Amorim got in top position and got to work, looking to score multiple submission attempts.

    After failing to secure a kimura, Amorim secured an armbar late in the first round. Lookboonmee looked to show toughness and defend the attempt, but she submitted as Amorim tightened the extension further.

    Jaqueline Amorim Lands Submission Of Loma Lookboonmee With Tight Armbar At UFC Macau

    Amorim has now won five of her last six fights, with all of her wins in MMA thus far coming via a finish. Amorim rebounds here after losing to Mizuki Inoue at UFC 321.

    This is Lookboonmee’s first time dropping consecutive fights in her MMA career. After previously going on a four-fight win streak, she entered this fight off a loss to Alexia Thainara in September.

  • UFC Macau Results: Yadong vs. Figueiredo Live Updates & Highlights

    UFC Macau Results: Yadong vs. Figueiredo Live Updates & Highlights

    MMA News updates UFC Macau results and highlights live as the action unfolds from the Galaxy Arena in Macau, China. The main event will feature a bantamweight bout between Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. MMANews has you covered with all the results and highlights!

    Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo – Bantamweight Main Event

    Yadong enters this fight with three wins in his last five fights and a 7-3 record in his last 10. Yadong has lost two of his three most recent fights, but those losses came against current champion Petr Yan and former champion Sean O’Malley — the latter happening at UFC 324 in January.

    After a three-fight win streak to start his time at bantamweight, Figueiredo enters this fight with three losses in his last four. Figueiredo also fought at UFC 324, missing weight and dropping a decision to Umar Nurmagomedov.

    The UFC Macau co-main event will feature Zhang Mingyang against Alonzo Menifield in a light heavyweight matchup.

    Mingyang has been making noise in the light heavyweight division since his UFC debut in early 2024. He, however, saw his 12-fight win streak snapped in his last bout, getting stopped by Johnny Walker in the main event of UFC Shanghai in August.

    After going unbeaten in 2022 and 2023, Menifield is 2-3 since, which includes knockout losses to Azamat Murzakanov and current champion Carlos Ulberg. Menifield comes into this bout off a loss to Volkan Oezdemir at UFC Qatar in November.

    If you can’t watch the action, check here for all the latest results and highlights from UFC Macau!

    How to Watch UFC Macau

    • Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
    • Venue: Galaxy Arena, Macau, China
    • Streaming: Paramount+ (exclusive)
    • Prelims: 4 AM ET / 1 AM PT
    • Main Card: 7 AM ET / 4 AM PT

    UFC Macau Quick Results

    • Main Event: Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo — Song Yadong def. Deiveson Figueiredo via submission (guillotine choke) (Rd. 2, 4:42)
    • Co-Main Event: Zhang Mingyang vs. Alonzo Menifield — Alonzo Menifield def. Zhang Mingyang via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:15)
    • Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tallison Teixeira — Sergei Pavlovich def. Tallison Teixeira via KO (Rd. 1, 0:39)
    • Kai Asakura vs. Cameron Smotherman — Kai Asakura def. Cameron Smotherman via KO (Rd. 1, 1:50)
    • Jake Matthews vs. Carlston Harris — Jake Matthews def. Carlston Harris via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27 x2)
    • Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji — Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji ends in a no contest (accidental foul) (Rd. 2, 1:45)

    UFC Macau Results & Highlights

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 4 AM ET)

    Women’s Strawweight: Loma Lookboonmee vs. Jaqueline Amorim

    Result: Jaqueline Amorim def. Loma Lookboonmee via submission (armbar) (Rd. 1, 4:04)

    Featherweight: Rodrigo Vera vs. Kangjie Zhu

    Result: Rodrigo Vera def. Kangjie Zhu via KO (Rd. 1, 1:50)

    Women’s Strawweight: Angela Hill vs. Jingnan Xiong

    Result: Angela Hill def. Jingnan Xiong via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)

    Flyweight: Rei Tsuruya vs. Luis Gurule

    Result: Rei Tsuruya def. Luis Gurule via submission (rear-naked choke) (Rd. 1, 3:19)

    Bantamweight: Aoriqileng vs. Cody Haddon

    Result: Cody Haddon def. Aoriqileng via TKO (Rd. 2, 2:11)

    Welterweight: Meng Ding vs. Jose Henrique

    Result: Jose Henrique def. Meng Ding via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

    Middleweight: Luis Felipe Dias vs. Yi Sak Lee

    Result: Luis Felipe Dias def. Yi Sak Lee via TKO (Rd. 1, 3:40)

    Main Card (Paramount+, 7 AM ET)

    Flyweight: Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji

    Result: Alex Perez vs. Su Mudaerji ends in a no contest (accidental foul) (Rd. 2, 1:45)

    Welterweight: Jake Matthews vs. Carlston Harris

    Result: Jake Matthews def. Carlston Harris via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-27 x2)

    Bantamweight: Kai Asakura vs. Cameron Smotherman

    Result: Kai Asakura def. Cameron Smotherman via KO (Rd. 1, 1:50)

    Heavyweight: Sergei Pavlovich vs. Tallison Teixeira

    Result: Sergei Pavlovich def. Tallison Teixeira via KO (Rd. 1, 0:39)

    Light Heavyweight: Zhang Mingyang vs. Alonzo Menifield

    Result: Alonzo Menifield def. Zhang Mingyang via TKO (Rd. 1, 4:15)

    Bantamweight: Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo

    Result: Song Yadong def. Deiveson Figueiredo via submission (guillotine choke) (Rd. 2, 4:42)

  • Derrick Lewis Goes Viral For Delivering A Body Shot To A Fan

    Derrick Lewis Goes Viral For Delivering A Body Shot To A Fan

    Derrick Lewis was caught on video delivering a body shot to a willing fan in a clip that went viral on social media, with the recipient appearing to drop immediately before eventually getting back to his feet to a round of laughter.

    The video was posted by former UFC fighter Mana Martinez, with the caption suggesting the punch may have been a birthday gift of sorts.

    Lewis appeared to take something off the shot, but it was still enough to drop the man, who needed assistance standing and could be heard laboring to catch his breath as laughter erupted off-screen.

    Lewis faces Josh Hokit at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House in what will be a considerably stiffer challenge. Hokit is undefeated and was personally added to the card at the request of President Donald Trump.

  • Eddie Hearn Challenges Dana White To Release Tom Aspinall

    Eddie Hearn Challenges Dana White To Release Tom Aspinall

    Eddie Hearn has challenged Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, promising to pay the heavyweight champion a minimum of three times his current UFC salary and offering to drop his legal dispute with Conor Benn as part of the deal.

    Hearn told iFL TV he was inspired by White’s own words about Benn signing with Zuffa Boxing.

    “One thing that’s actually stuck out with me from his comments is when Conor Benn signed with Zuffa, he said, ‘Eddie should want fighters to earn as much as possible.’ Right? Do you remember that? ‘He should be happy for Conor Benn, that he’s making more money.’ So I’ve been thinking about that line, and I think that I’ve got an idea. I would like Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, and I will guarantee Dana White, in writing, that I will pay Tom Aspinall a minimum — probably five times more — but a minimum of three times more what Dana White is paying him. And I think for a hardworking, working class man that deserves every penny he can get because of what he puts his body through, that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall to receive that deal.”

    Hearn was direct about his assessment of Aspinall’s current deal.

    “The situation with Tom is, and he is under contract with the UFC, but unfortunately for him he has signed a contract which is one of the worst, most grossly underpaid athletes I have ever seen in the commercial world of sports. I’m looking at this kid, Tom Aspinall, I’m looking at what combat sports athletes are making around the world, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s absolutely disgusting what they’re paying him and things need to change.”

    He also offered to walk away from his ongoing legal dispute with Benn in exchange for Aspinall’s release.

    “I’ll trade that up. I’ll walk away from all their problems they’ve got on the Conor Benn legal situation if they release Tom Aspinall. And I will, in writing, it will be five or six times more money he’ll be making, but I will put in writing that Tom Aspinall will make a minimum of three times more than he will under his current contract. There you go. And then we can all celebrate a great athlete, a great fighter, and someone that deserves, like Dana said, to make as much money as he can from the sport.”

    Aspinall is currently sidelined with eye injuries suffered in his fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in October 2025. He signed a management contract with Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency. Benn signed a reported $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing for a single bout. Hearn and White have been publicly feuding for months, with tensions escalating to the point of both men discussing a fight between themselves before White backed away from that talk

  • Trump Bought UFC Parent Company Stock Before White House Card

    Trump Bought UFC Parent Company Stock Before White House Card

    President Donald Trump purchased stock in TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of the UFC, on March 25, according to a financial disclosure filing reviewed by HuffPost. The purchase fell in a range of $15,001 to $50,000.

    The filing, submitted May 12, surfaced as Trump continues to promote the UFC’s June 14 event on the White House South Lawn, billed as UFC Freedom 250. That card lands on Trump’s 80th birthday and ties into celebrations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.

    Trump has attended multiple UFC events across his second term and counts UFC CEO Dana White as a close friend, a relationship that dates back to 2000 when the Trump Taj Mahal hosted early UFC shows. White confirmed the White House card earlier this year, with the main event set for 8 p.m. ET on June 14.

    The timing of the TKO purchase has drawn scrutiny because of that promotional overlap. Trump has bought and sold stock in numerous companies he has publicly praised or whose industries his administration regulates.

    White House officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have previously said Trump does not personally select which stocks to buy and sell, and that his financial advisers handle those decisions. TKO Group Holdings did not respond to a request for comment from HuffPost.

    TKO reported first quarter 2026 revenue of $1.597 billion, a 26 percent year-over-year increase, with the UFC and WWE driving much of that growth. The fights at the White House will stream on Paramount+, which holds exclusive UFC streaming rights under a seven-year deal.

  • Sean O’Malley’s Response To UFC Freedom 250 Weather Concerns Is Very On Brand

    Sean O’Malley’s Response To UFC Freedom 250 Weather Concerns Is Very On Brand

    Sean O’Malley says he accepted that UFC Freedom 250 would be an outdoor event when he signed the contract and is prepared to deal with whatever conditions come his way on June 14 at the White House.

    O’Malley faces Aiemann Zahabi on the card and was asked by MMA Junkie about Joe Rogan’s concerns that the outdoor setting could affect championship-level bouts.

    “It’s at the White House, so you gotta deal with whatever you gotta deal with. That would suck to lose because of a reason outside of your skillset. May the best man win. If something plays a role because it’s outside and it affects the fight somehow, that would suck. It’s unfortunate, but none of us signed the contract thinking it was inside, you know what I mean? We all know it’s outside. We all know what we’re getting into. Maybe not to an extent, we don’t know what all is gonna happen, but we all know it’s gonna be outside and we’re gonna have to possibly deal with stuff. We all signed it.”

    Rogan recently said on his podcast that he does not believe championship fights should take place in uncontrolled outdoor environments, citing potential heat and bug issues. The Weather Channel currently projects nighttime temperatures in Washington, D.C., ranging from 67 to 85 degrees, with precipitation forecast unavailable at the time of writing. Thunderstorms are common in the area during the summer months.

    Dana White has previously acknowledged that it had rained for eight consecutive days at the White House since his team began building the venue.

  • Ilia Topuria Had A Lot To Say About Arman Tsarukyan’s Grappling And None Of It Was A Compliment

    Ilia Topuria Had A Lot To Say About Arman Tsarukyan’s Grappling And None Of It Was A Compliment

    Ilia Topuria says his next title defense after UFC Freedom 250 will be against Arman Tsarukyan, and delivered a blunt warning about what awaits the contender in the octagon.

    Topuria faces Justin Gaethje in a lightweight title unification bout on June 14 at the White House. Speaking to DeepCut, he addressed Tsarukyan’s patience while waiting for his shot.

    “The fight with Arman is going to be a good fight. The thing is that they used to take a lot of confidence because they fight with fighters that — his last fight was against Dan Hooker. He has, I don’t know, 20 losses in his professional career. It’s like, bro, you never, ever, like forget about it, never ever in your entire life you faced someone like me.”

    Topuria dismissed the idea that Tsarukyan’s renowned grappling would pose a significant problem.

    “It’s like, I’m going to embarrass you in front of everyone. Because with him, he thinks that he’s tough, he thinks that like his wrestling is I don’t know what. Like, he feels that he’s an Olympic champion. Anyway, if he’s the best in the world in wrestling, when it comes to the octagon, bro, I’m the king. In there, I’m the king. I do with you whatever I want to f*cking do. And I told him like I’m going to break his jaw in the first round.”

    “He’s going to try to take me down since the beginning of the fight and when he’s going to realize that, bro, it’s not that easy. And then he’s going to start to panic. And then when I break his jaw, bam. In front of all his crowd, all his people, his family, who gives a f*ck. Bam!”

    Tsarukyan has won his last three fights over Beneil Dariush, Charles Oliveira, and Dan Hooker and has been waiting for his title shot since being passed over for the interim bout that went to Gaethje.

  • Cain Velasquez Addressed His MMA Future And The Answer Is Final

    Cain Velasquez Addressed His MMA Future And The Answer Is Final

    Cain Velasquez says a return to MMA would require a payday no one is willing to offer, and made clear he has no interest in competing or coaching again.

    Velasquez appeared at the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano ceremonial weigh-ins two weeks ago to oversee the heavyweight faceoffs, leading some to speculate about a potential comeback. He quickly dismissed that idea on the Weighing In podcast with Josh Thomson.

    “The money has to make me want to do it because, I’ve said this before, I don’t want to do it. I have other interests now. But the money really has to make me want to do it, and I don’t think anybody is willing to pay that.”

    At 43 and having not competed since 2019, Velasquez was honest about what a return would realistically look like.

    “I mean, I can always fight again, but to what degree is something different, as well. Of course, we could always do it. But to what degree are you doing it at?”

    He also ruled out a coaching path back into the sport despite spending time at American Kickboxing Academy helping younger fighters.

    “In that way, I don’t. It doesn’t interest me anymore. I get so into what I’m doing that, whatever you want to call it, it doesn’t do it for me anymore.”

    Velasquez’s last fight came in February 2019 when Francis Ngannou knocked him out in 26 seconds. He paroled in February after a 10-month prison term following a no contest plea to an attempted murder charge on a man accused of molesting his son.

  • Chael Sonnen Sends Message For Nassourdine Imavov About Why He Is Losing The Middleweight Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen Sends Message For Nassourdine Imavov About Why He Is Losing The Middleweight Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen says Nassourdine Imavov is squandering his opportunity to secure a UFC middleweight title shot by staying silent while Khamzat Chimaev dominates the post-UFC 328 conversation.

    Sonnen addressed the situation on his YouTube channel, pointing out that Imavov has both Sean Strickland’s endorsement and the community’s backing — but has done nothing to capitalize on either.

    “Imavov, rightfully by us as a community, should be next for a world title, regardless of who is champion. Imavov was next. As a community, that is what we believe. But Imavov hasn’t demanded that. Imavov hasn’t said a word. He has not spoken up. He’s got the blessing of Sean Strickland. Sean Strickland spoke about this one time and say, ‘Yes, I will rematch Chimaev, but that’s going to have to wait, but Imavov is owed. Imavov is the rightful guy. I’m going to fight Imavov.’ That is the blessing and the kiss. That is all Imavov needs in conjunction with some headlines, and he’s not getting them.”

    Sonnen dismissed the weight cut narrative Chimaev’s team has been pushing, framing it as a storyline that only works because Imavov has created nothing to compete with it.

    “It doesn’t matter to any of them, including Chimaev’s team. They’re just pretending it matters. Why? Because it keeps a headline and a topic that involves Chimaev and Strickland. We’re going to have a real hard time building a beef between Chimaev and Strickland who just got done laughing at us for believing their beef in the first place, so they’ve gone to a new angle. Which is the angle of the weight cut. The built-in excuse.”

    “‘Chimaev should beat Strickland and Chimaev should rematch Strickland because he can flip the result, and he can flip the result because of this one thing, the weight cut,’ is a lot bigger story than Imavov’s put out, which is nothing.”

    Imavov has responded on social media by posting that he believes everyone will stand on what they said, tagging Strickland and UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. He is currently riding a five-fight winning streak and has not lost since a short-notice light heavyweight bout against Strickland in 2023.

    Dana White has acknowledged the UFC has not decided what to do with the middleweight title picture. Strickland entered UFC 328 with several injuries and is expected to need several months of recovery before returning to action.

  • UFC Macau Weigh-In Results

    UFC Macau Weigh-In Results

    All 26 fighters on Saturday’s UFC Macau card made weight at Friday morning’s official weigh-ins.

    Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo headline the event in a bantamweight non-title bout, with both men coming in under the 136-pound limit. Zhang Mingyang and Alonzo Menifield meet in the light heavyweight co-main event.

    Full UFC Macau weigh-in results:

    Main Card (Paramount+, 7 a.m. ET)

    • Song Yadong (136) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135.5)
    • Zhang Mingyang (205) vs. Alonzo Menifield (206)
    • Sergei Pavlovich (257) vs. Tallison Teixeira (250)
    • Kai Asakura (135.5) vs. Cameron Smotherman (135.5)
    • Jake Matthews (170) vs. Carlston Harris (170.5)
    • Alex Perez (125.5) vs. Sumudaerji (126)

    Preliminary Card (Paramount+, 4 a.m. ET)

    • Yi Sak Lee (185) vs. Luis Felipe Dias (184.5)
    • Ding Meng (170.5) vs. Jose Souza (170.5)
    • Aoriqileng (135) vs. Cody Haddon (135)
    • Rei Tsuruya (135) vs. Luis Gurule (135)
    • Angela Hill (115) vs. Xiong Jing Nan (115.5)
    • Zhu Kangjie (145) vs. Rodrigo Vera (145)
    • Loma Lookboonmee (115) vs. Jaqueline Amorim (115.5)
  • Ronda Rousey Says She Would ‘Clean Holly Holm’s Clock’ In A Rematch

    Ronda Rousey Says She Would ‘Clean Holly Holm’s Clock’ In A Rematch

    Ronda Rousey says she is confident she would beat Holly Holm in a rematch and credits new medication for allowing her to fight without the neurological issues that affected the final stages of her UFC career, but insists she has no interest in fighting again.

    Rousey addressed Holm directly on Up and Adams following her retirement after submitting Gina Carano at MVP MMA 1.

    “I said I’m retired, A and B, I think that I am a completely different fighter now. I would clean her clock and definitely now that I got that new medication. I took it before. I was diagnosed with cortical spreading depression, which was always happening in my last fights and basically why I was like I need to stop. I thought my concussions were catching up to me. This is the first fight where I was able to take it and when I spiked my head into the mat, that’s exactly the kind of thing that would have set me off before. I would have lost big chunks of my vision and it didn’t come back at all. It ended up working perfectly in a live situation.”

    Rousey said the things she once wanted most no longer hold the same weight.

    “I’m better than I’ve ever been. I have better coaches than I’ve ever had. I finally don’t have these neurological issues that I had before. But now that I have it all set in front of me, I’ve changed and the things that I want have changed and suddenly these aren’t the most important things in the world to me anymore. It’s these kids and spending time with them.”

    She was unequivocal about the rematch never happening.

    “I think I definitely have the ability and the opportunity to be able to f*cking clean her clock and rewrite all of that but it’s no longer important to me anymore. It doesn’t haunt me. It’s not the most important thing in my life and these people’s perceptions and knowing how great I am and all this stuff. I know how good I am and my kids need me in their life and I want to be there for them.”

    Holm knocked out Rousey in 2015 to claim the UFC bantamweight title in one of the biggest upsets in MMA history. Holm has previously said she would always be open to a rematch.